Old houses are being demolished all over Vancouver — the city issued 974 demolition permits for single and two family homes in 2015.

But this house was supposed to have some protection. Constructed in 1915 for $2,000, it was one of the first houses built on West 31st, and the only one that was given Heritage B status by the city.

But even being on the city’s heritage register couldn’t save it, which infuriates heritage advocate Caroline Adderson.

“The tiny bit of protection that these houses have is useless,” said Adderson.

“It’s useless. Basically everything is a building lot, and it’s all going to go. It’s all going to go if something doesn’t change.”

Adderson wonders how the destruction of a house in “perfect” shape like this fits into the city’s “green” goals.

“Every purported city goal is flouted every time one of these houses come down,” she said.

“It’s not green. It does not increase affordability. It doesn’t even increase density. We lose nine mature trees a day because of this. Everything is a farce when this happens.”

Neighbour Wood Bennett was walking down the street when a Sun team showed up to photograph the house Monday. The windows have already been taken out and the walls have largely been stripped, leaving it an empty shell.

“It’s a crime to pull it down,” said Bennett.

“The layout on the main floor is difficult to live in, for the current way that people live. But as for culture and heritage and conservation, it clearly meets the standard that it should be conserved.”

Bennett has been through several open houses at the home over the years, watching it zoom in price from $430,000 in 1990 to $800,000 in 2002 to $2.498 million in 2012.

“It’s been updated five times, by people who have done some very good work, all trying to preserve it,” he said.

“But it’s the land (that makes it valuable) … the land alone is selling for $3 million, $3.4 million, depending on whether it’s a sunny day. It’s out of reach of any person who works for a living.”

Adderson wonders why the city and province don’t seem to be doing anything to address the sky-high west side market.

“There’s ample evidence for what’s going on in the city … the west side market is skewed toward people with foreign capital,” she said.

“Because nobody (from Vancouver) could buy these places, nobody who contributes to the tax base.”

Adderson also takes issue with people who argue that old houses like this aren’t desirable anymore. She lives in a character home in Dunbar, and loves it.

“When we started looking (in 1999), character homes were the most sought after houses,” she recounts.

“If you opened the realty pages, it would say ‘Character home! Character home!’ The first house we went to was over in Cambie Village, and it had 109 offers.

“You’ll hear realtors say (today) ‘these houses have reached the end of their lifespan’ and all this garbage, and it’s just not true. These houses are beloved by people who live in this city, and what’s happening is heartbreaking.”

As a Heritage B home, the city is able to offer incentives to owners to try to retain it, such as building a second house in the backyard. But under the RS5 zoning in the neighbourhood, the new owner could build a new 4,000 sq. ft home, and chose to do so.

“There is no policy which would prevent demolition from taking place,” said George Fujii, the city’s director of development services.

The new owner is Chaoyin Zhu, who hired Intarsia Design’s Nigel Hacker to design a new home. Hacker said Zhu “wanted a new house” and didn’t negotiate with the city to keep the existing home.

“(Zhu) lives in Vancouver,” said Hacker.

“He has a house right now, that’s why this one was pending. He was living in this house and was having a different house built.

“He’s now moving into the other new one while this one gets built, then will move back to this one, and will sell the other one.”

In less than a week, Abbotsford recording artists Hedley went from touring Canada with two supporting acts and a popular new album to pariahs ensnared in allegations of sexual misconduct. On Monday, accusations that band members Jacob Hoggard, Dave Rosin, Tommy Mac and Jay Benison had engaged in sexual behaviour with teenage girls surfaced on Twitter […]

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.